Live Engraving on Glass Teacups for Material Bank & Porcelanosa

Photos by John Winters Photography

Client / Brand: Material Bank × Porcelanosa
Event Type: Interior designer networking and material discovery event
Location: Porcelanosa Austin Showroom
Guest Count: 50–75
Team: 1 live engraving artist, 1 station hostess

The Objective

Material Bank and Porcelanosa hosted an intimate event for interior designers, focused on material exploration, connection, and thoughtful brand engagement. The goal was to create a guest experience that felt tactile and intentional — something that aligned with the design-forward audience and encouraged guests to slow down and interact.

The Personalization Experience

My role was to provide live engraving on glass tea infuser mugs, personalized on site with names, initials, or short phrases. Each engraved mug was paired with loose leaf tea, marble coasters, and packaged in a gift bag, creating a cohesive, functional takeaway guests could use beyond the event.

Live engraving added a layer of craftsmanship that complemented the showroom environment, allowing guests to witness the process while engaging with the space and materials around them.

Amanda Reid Designs Station Hostess assisting guests with personalization requests

Flow & Logistics

To ensure a seamless experience, the activation was supported by one artist and one station hostess. The setup included a single engraving station for personalization, with a separate table where guests selected their tea, marble coaster, and completed their gift.

Guests began by placing their personalization request with the hostess, then had the option to watch their mug being engraved — a process that took approximately 1–2 minutes per piece — or continue networking and return shortly to collect their item. This structure kept the line moving efficiently while allowing flexibility for guest flow.

Average wait time remained short, with most guests waiting 5–10 minutes at peak moments.

Impact

The activation saw strong guest engagement, with several attendees staying to observe the engraving process and others returning after networking to pick up their personalized piece. The experience reinforced the value of live personalization in design-focused settings — where process, materiality, and craftsmanship are just as important as the final product.

This event is a strong example of how live engraving can be seamlessly integrated into corporate and showroom events, supporting brand storytelling while remaining operationally smooth and guest-centered.